Kerrey won't rule out White House run

NEW YORK (AP) - Former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey, a onetime presidential candidate and now head of the New School University, said Tuesday he won't rule out another run for the White House.

"Saying never is not a good idea," he said at a meeting of the New York Press Club. "It's a possibility. I think, though, what has to happen is, I've really got to want to be president, and that hasn't happened yet."

Kerrey left the Senate to become president of the New School, a job he officially began last week. He was one of several Democrats who sought the nomination for president in 1992, the year Bill Clinton prevailed.

Asked if Clinton's pardons were wrong, Kerrey answered, "Yeah." Referring to the Marc Rich pardon, he added: "This is a guy who fled prosecution."

Kerrey was also asked to elaborate on reports that during a dinner Kerry had with Clinton last month in New York, the former president divulged a list of his least favorite staffers and appointees - George Stephanopoulos, Janet Reno, Louis Freeh and Robert Reich.

But Kerrey, who said he has been surprised by how much coverage he has received in the New York media in recent weeks, wouldn't say any more about what he and Clinton discussed.

"I could," he said. "I don't choose to."

A spokesman for Stephanopoulos, now a commentator for ABC, said he was traveling Monday and could not be reached for comment. Calls to Freeh and Clinton were not immediately returned.

Reno, Clinton's attorney general, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday: "That's too bad. I didn't go to Washington for ... well, it's just too bad."